Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-29


'And what is your dress to be P"
asked Mr. Shaw, with rather an indies
scribable infection to his voice.
1.-The lovelest blue silesia. with n
! lowered cretonne front, enthusi-
asticaly. sleeveless waist. Medici col
lar. shrred and very bouffant draper
les. 1t will be beautiful, and l know
it will seem very nice to some poor
woman who never had anything like
it,"
YES" said he in a tone quite satur-
ated with irony. Il don doubt its use
fulness; but don't you think you ought
TO add few yards of illusion to make
some warm bodies for those who hav c
no fires, and few yards of ribbon to
decorate the little fire ENG arms?"
Now, you are angry with me, Mr..
Shaw" hesitatingly. Don you think
rue utterly heartless; but can't go to
- street 1t would really give me a
little blue chill"
IL could never consent TO such a cruel
thing as that" he said, with an UNI
pleasant smile. Il really feel that l
owe you an apology for intruding
such a disagreeable subject, particular
ly after your nerves were shattered
with your novel. Good morning." and
he bowed himself out very abruptly,
with strange little pain in his heart.
He DID not again speak on the sub
ject to her, but found other ladies who
interested themselves most warmly in
the work
Everywhere that he went in his
charity rounds he could see and feel
the influence of Miss Sank's good acts
She seemed to be an angel of mercy,
who never tired, and who devoted her
entire time to charity. All that she
did was marked by practical good
sense and depth of thought and feel
ing that he could not fail TO admire
Still he never CHANGED to meet her.
One day when entering the post
Office he saw Lee. She was unaware of
his presence, and, standing idly be-
hind her, he felt as if he had received
an electic shock, as she asked:
as there anything fer Miss Mehit-
able Sanks ?" and then received and
pocketed several postal cards.
If he was astonished at the question,
he was still more so at the effect which
his discovery produced on her.
Neck, face, and brow, even the roots
of her golden curls, We're dyed in
painful crimson, her eyes dilsted with
an expression of great CONSERVATION.
but with little naughty gesture of re-
cognition she hurrie past him.
Acting upon an impulse. with a few
hasty steps he soon overlook her. He
was lost in bewllderng surprise. She
was the last person with whom he
would have connected Miss Shanks in
any way. and her great agitation, as he
walked beside her, increased his sur
prise.
A sudden. bright suspicion caused
his heart TO beat almost TO suifocaton.
Tell me, Miss Mabel" he said,
"what have you to do with Miss
Shank's letters ?"
Il really can't understand. Mr..
Shaw, what right you have to ask me
such a question. In all things spiritu-
al l acknowledge your right, but in
this instance you forget YOU self. b"
Tell me-" he said. with eager. re-
CARELESS haste, are you Miss Shanks p
a sudden burst of tears was her only
cell. and walked silently beside him.
A calm of perfect JOY descended up
on him, as he fully realized the truth.
He walked by her side until he reached
her home, and then, without waiting
for an Invita- on, entered it with her.
As they reached the parlor, she toss
ed aside her hat and stood before him
more like a discovered culprit than the
little saint she had pro we'd TO be.
There was defiant sparkle in her
eyes as she turned her flushed face to
! him.
He took both of her hands in his.
$50. Mabel" he murmured, tender
". "your heart is as beautiful rs your
face, though you have yelled your
goodness under an exterior of frivolty.
This is not the general rule of human :
ty."
but, Mr.. Shaw. if it is a fault,
it lies entirely at your door"
Have l anything to do with it?" he
asked. in surprise. II have been
thinking for long while that you were
entirely beyond my control "
Nevertheless, have only been
obeying your Instructions. Don't you
remember you sometimes preach
against ostentatious charity? Let not
thy left hand know what thy right
hand doeth.' / thought there was a
word of truth and force in it. and l
| have prac,iccd what YOU preached.